Experimental investigation of methyl tert-butyl ether dissolution in saturated porous media

This study aims to investigate methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) dissolution in saturated porous media. A series of 1D column experiments were conducted in laboratory to obtain MTBE dissolution data with different groundwater velocity, initial MTBE saturation and grain size of porous medium, and in the presence of other nonaqueous liquids. Results indicate that higher groundwater velocity increases MTBE dissolution rate and higher initial MTBE saturation reduces effective permeability to slow MTBE dissolution rate. Smaller grain size medium gives higher MTBE dissolution rate because of higher permeability. The addition of trichloroethylene enhances MTBE dissolution, with an optimal mass ratio of 10:2, while the presence of p-xylene prolongs complete dissolution of MTBE. Mass transfer correlations are developed for MTBE dissolution rate based on the degree of MTBE saturation Sn. Mass transfer rate is characterized by Re′ with a high exponent for 0.3000 < Sn < 0.5482, while it is related to medium grain size and Sn for Sn ≤ 0.3000.